Real Madrid tops Recreativo Huelva
Real Madrid earned coach Bernd Schuster some breathing space with a much-needed 1-0 win over lowly Recreativo Huelva on Saturday, but it was far from comfortable viewing for the home fans at the Bernabeu.
Madrid, having lost four of its previous eight competitive matches, had come into the match with the spotlight still firmly on Schuster despite this week’s vote of confidence from sporting director Predrag Mijatovic.
But despite struggling to overcome second-bottom Recre, Madrid managed to claim the spoils thanks to Wesley Sneijder’s deflected first-half piledriver.
Madrid’s quest for a much-needed second goal was badly hit with 15 minutes to go when Gonzalo Higuain was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury.
There was an edgy atmosphere and plenty of empty seats at the Bernabeu at the start of the game, and an injury-hit Madrid side did little to lighten the mood with a nervous start.
Sneijder’s fortunate strike calmed the crowd but there was no second from Real.
Villarreal lost its unbeaten league record as it crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat at home to Valladolid.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side came into this game as the only remaining unbeaten side in the league, but was unable to recover from conceding three first-half goals to an impressive Valladolid outfit.
Jonathan Sesma gave Valladolid the lead midway through the first half and doubled the visitors’ advantage two minutes before the break.
Luis Prieto then added a third in injury-time at the end of the first half to give Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side an unlikely 3-0 lead at the interval and Villarreal were unable to respond in the second period.
Sevilla and Valencia shared the spoils following an entertaining goalless draw at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to remain fifth and fourth respectively.
The Andalusians played most of the football, but were frustrated by a solid Valencia side.
Both teams missed good chances to win the match and Sevilla in particular will rue a missed opportunity to move into the top four.